HBO have renewed their vampire drama True Blood for a fifth season, which will surprise nobody considering its continuing ratings success. It's been getting just above 5m viewers all season, which is up on every previous year.
Michael Lombardo, HBO's President of Programming:
"I am thrilled that True Blood continues to enjoy a phenomenal reception from both subscribers and critics. Alan Ball and his gifted team have devised the greatest thrill ride on TV."Alan Ball, True Blood's showrunner:
"I remain amazed and delighted by the enthusiasm of our viewers. I can't imagine having more fun than this."I'm glad the show's coming back. Season 4's been getting increasingly better after an infuriating start, and it's hard to see the show ever becoming outright boring. The show has the potential to really frustrate and anger me at times, but it's also an oddly irresistible package of shocks, gore, sex, violence and pulpy cliffhangers.
TRUE BLOOD season 5 will premiere on HBO next summer.
Incidentally, season 3 is most likely to begin on Channel 4 in the autumn, and season 4 will likely launch on FX UK in the new year. (This is one of those shows where the UK are ridiculously behind the US. Weirdly, you've been able to buy season 3 on DVD here for months, which must surely erode the audience before its terrestrial debut on Channel 4!)
